OCI process

[AllGoodNamesRGone]

I have 3 questions, if anyone know please let me know :

1. Once i got my citizenship certificate do i have to apply for candadian passport or i can visit on india on indian passport and can apply canadian passport once i came back ?

2. once i got canadian passport do i have to surrender indian passport or i can go india on indian passport and can surrencder once i came back ?

3. once i got canadian passport once i surrender my indian passport is there any option to travel india other than OCI as OCI application takes long time and i need to travel india in January 2026 ?

1. Once you complete your Oath and receive Citizenship certificate, you are Officially Canadian Citizen and you should not use Indian Passport for travel. You have to apply for Canada Passport and use that as Travel ID.

2. You have to use Canada Passport to travel and can Surrender Indian Passport in India at your local Passport Seva office or you can also surrender in BLS once you are back in Canada.
Surrendering Indian Passport in India is cheaper and quick, you can get same day Surrender Certificate within 4-5 hours.

3. You can apply for E-Visa through Indian Consulate in Canada and use that for entering India with Canada Passport.

FYI, Once you are a Canada citizen, you can carry Indian Passport with you. But, you should not use it for booking airline tickets or show it to airport staff or any Immigration POE officer.

 

[Windywalks]

I am not sure about the post related to all documents. We applied last week at Surrey BLS and can share my experience. We surrendered our voter ID and Ration card in India and signed the declaration provided in the checklist. If she doesn’t have, she can just sign the declaration. Regarding BLS courier, i would suggest use premium lounge, I understand its 100$ extra per person, but it includes the courier fees and you don’t have to pay separately and you avoid unnecessary hassle, they can check you forms and everything and redo for any mistakes even they can fill from scratch. Because no matter what we do, they always find mistakes. I didn’t have enough time on hand before travel and was not ready to afford that consulate send my application back due to any mistakes so i just booked premium lounge. Regarding the online application, yes you have to fill separately for each applicant for minors and adults.

1. In premium lounge service - can we courier the documents or have to walk-in ? If walk in , i have heard BLS take original documents and hold onto the same ??

2. Also, I am not able to delete name from voterID online as registered mobile is not in use anymore. Does anyone have experience with relative going in person with form7 to cancel ? Any ID required for the applicant or just form7 and authorization ??

3. Can we just apply for OCI with declaration and surrender voterID next time when we are in India ?

 

[Canmigration]

Hi all, I got the following updates on my OCI application

Status changed to GRANTED: 18 Sep 2025
OCI issue date : 19 Sep 2025
OCI Card dispatched from printing cell : 22 Sep 2025
OCI Card received at mission / FRRO : NA
OCI Card delivered to the applicant on : NA

How long it will take to reach the OCI card in hand. I have opted for the courier delivery at the BLS.
I will be travelling to India on 12th October and can I expect it before that?
Thanks in advance

 

[Dikku1111]

1. Once you complete your Oath and receive Citizenship certificate, you are Officially Canadian Citizen and you should not use Indian Passport for travel. You have to apply for Canada Passport and use that as Travel ID.

2. You have to use Canada Passport to travel and can Surrender Indian Passport in India at your local Passport Seva office or you can also surrender in BLS once you are back in Canada.
Surrendering Indian Passport in India is cheaper and quick, you can get same day Surrender Certificate within 4-5 hours.

3. You can apply for E-Visa through Indian Consulate in Canada and use that for entering India with Canada Passport.

FYI, Once you are a Canada citizen, you can carry Indian Passport with you. But, you should not use it for booking airline tickets or show it to airport staff or any Immigration POE officer.

Thanks for information

Do you have any idea how long time take to get E-visa for india after the apply ?

Do you know anyone who has surrender indian passport in india after they recieved canadian passport and travel on canadian passport ?

Thanks

 

[Canmigration]

Thanks for information

Do you have any idea how long time take to get E-visa for india after the apply ?

Do you know anyone who has surrender indian passport in india after they recieved canadian passport and travel on canadian passport ?

Thanks

Hi, I traveled to India immediately after receiving my Canadian citizenship and passport, using an Indian e-Visa. The e-Visa was approved in just 48 hours, lightening fast! I surrendered my Indian passport directly at the regional passport office, which was much smoother than going through BLS. The whole process took only 2 hours and cost just ₹500.

 

[auroragk]

i got an email today from oci section toronto. they said my photo was rejected by delhi. they asked me to submit new photo and signature via same email. i send email yesterday to helpdesk-oci@gov.in about application status. not sure i got reply from toronto due to that email or they just send it to me.

I also received the same mail. Photo rejected. They have asked for new photo and signature.

 

[Ishar]

1. In premium lounge service - can we courier the documents or have to walk-in ? If walk in , i have heard BLS take original documents and hold onto the same ??

2. Also, I am not able to delete name from voterID online as registered mobile is not in use anymore. Does anyone have experience with relative going in person with form7 to cancel ? Any ID required for the applicant or just form7 and authorization ??

3. Can we just apply for OCI with declaration and surrender voterID next time when we are in India ?

As far as I know, we need to walk in for the premium lounge service. You take all the originals with you. They check it and return to you at the same time. They dont keep it.
My dad did it in Punjab, on my behalf. Not sure about other relatives, my dad did write application oh his behalf and attached his ID's and mine voter cards. My Id's were not required.
I am not sure about the third part. As I know only declaration is required. But in case if they check it, your name is still there, i guess that is misrepresentation. Because all the voter lists are available online to check.

 

[BhavaniShankar]

1. In premium lounge service - can we courier the documents or have to walk-in ? If walk in , i have heard BLS take original documents and hold onto the same ??

2. Also, I am not able to delete name from voterID online as registered mobile is not in use anymore. Does anyone have experience with relative going in person with form7 to cancel ? Any ID required for the applicant or just form7 and authorization ??

3. Can we just apply for OCI with declaration and surrender voterID next time when we are in India ?

When I submitted my OCI application in BLS-Montreal last week, the officer asked for the surrender certificate or surrender acknowledgment. He said that HCI has mandated to verify the surrender proof before accepting the application and moving to next stage. Even if you bypass this at BLS-Montreal, the BLS-Ottawa will ask for the surrender certificate / acknowledgment. They are keen about the Voter ID and not about the ration card. If your EPIC number is found in the ECI website, you can submit relevant form online to get the mobile number registered and then try the surrender process online itself but this will take some time but definitely possible. IF you don't have EPIC number but have older voter ID and if that number in the voter ID is no longer the new EPIC number, you can send email to "complaints@eci.gov.in" to check your details in ECI.

 

[snayak]

OCI application date 28Aug2025.
No update yet. Anybody got update who submitted the application during that time.

 

[BhavaniShankar]

Hi, I traveled to India immediately after receiving my Canadian citizenship and passport, using an Indian e-Visa. The e-Visa was approved in just 48 hours, lightening fast! I surrendered my Indian passport directly at the regional passport office, which was much smoother than going through BLS. The whole process took only 2 hours and cost just ₹500.

That is really a nice idea of surrendering the India passport @india instead of wasting time to do the same in Canada.